Peyton woke up later than she usually did. She expected to hear some sound coming from the rest of the house. Music or typing or noise from the kitchen, but it was silent. She set her feet on the floor and walked into the kitchen, noticing Lucas' empty bedroom as she passed it.
There was a note on the table with his unmistakable writing.
Out with Nathan and his boys. Back later this afternoon.
- Lucas.
PS: I'm sorry...
She smiled at the words. Two simple written words, and she had completely forgiven him. How that was even possible, she wasn't sure. She just knew she needed Lucas in her life in whatever way she could have him. Their friendship had always been enough for her. Maybe it still was? Either way, she was glad he'd realized that he needed to apologize.
She knew there was a serious conversation to be had, and that it probably would leave one or more of them feeling...less than perfect...but she knew that with her and Lucas, things always seemed to iron themselves out. And just for today, she wanted to just go back to normal. The conversation could wait.
She made a pot of coffee and grabbed her computer to check her email. She had a couple from her friends in Chicago, wondering how 'life in the sticks' was. She replied to them, then moved on. She was going to start looking for office space for her label. After talking to Brooke, who'd agreed to loan her the money she'd need if her savings and severance came up short, she'd decided that what she wanted was to start her own company. She'd talked to a friend of hers in Chicago who was a realtor, and she'd listed her condo for sale. It was official. She was coming home.
It should have felt better. She should have been happier. She realized that not being able to share it with Lucas had somehow made it less special. It had all been his idea, and she hadn't yet let him know that she was going forward with it. Or moving back to Tree Hill.
Her work flow was interrupted when Brooke walked through the door with Emma.
"I've been waiting for you to come over," Peyton deadpanned. She knew her friend would be dying for details.
"Good," Brooke said, sitting in a chair across the living room from her friend. "Now start talking."
Peyton went through the whole story, from how the feelings developed, to the kiss, to the day of avoidance, to the ensuing argument and date, and the fight when she'd come home the night before.
"Can you really blame him?" Brooke offered delicately.
"No," Peyton admitted quietly.
"I mean, the ink is barely dry on your divorce papers, Peyton," Brooke said worriedly. "I've been rooting for you two since senior year, but you need to be 100 per cent sure of what you want."
"I know that," Peyton said, then sighed loudly. "Life sucks!"
Brooke laughed. "It doesn't suck. It's just complicated sometimes."
"What if he was it all along? What if I'd found it when I was 17 and was too stupid to realize it. I've been through so much crap, Brooke." Peyton ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
"All that crap brought you here, Peyton," Brooke explained. "And yeah, I know you wish you didn't have to go through that, but you can't think that way. It all happened to get you here."
"When the hell did you become such an optimist?" Peyton laughed.
"Since you became my best friend and I had to make you see the silver lining in everything!"
"Right," Peyton said with a chuckle.
"I've gotta go to Haley's. We're having an impromptu girls' day since the boys are out. You want to come?" Brooke asked.
"Um...give me a few minutes to change, and I'd love to have a girls' day." Peyton smiled, stood from the couch and went to her room to throw on a pair of jeans and a tank top.
----
Brooke, Emma, Haley and Peyton had spent their day on Haley's back patio, sipping iced tea and basking in sunshine and conversation. Peyton had told Brooke not to mention anything about the drama she'd created between her and Lucas, and Brooke had kept her word.
They were throwing around possible names for Peyton's label when the boys came walking from the house to join them. Lucas, Nathan, and Jamie exchanged looks over the three laughing women sitting before them. Matthew was in Lucas' arms and immediately reached out for his mother.
"What's got you all so smiley?" Lucas asked as he passed his nephew to Haley.
"We were just joking around. Talking about names for Peyton's label," Haley said before placing a kiss on the crown of her son's head.
"You're starting your own label? That's awesome!" Nathan said enthusiastically.
Lucas just smiled widely at Peyton and offered a nod as he took a seat between her and Brooke. She smiled back and looked away.
"So what have you come up with so far?" Nathan asked as he sat in the vacant chair next to his wife.
"We've got, Studios, Tree Hill Records, and my personal favourite, Hoes Over Psychos," Brooke said, making all the girls burst into fits of laughter again. Clearly, none of the options they'd tossed around were serious ones. The brothers just shook their heads, obviously having missed the joke.
Just then, Jamie walked over and took Emma's little hand in his, then pressed a kiss to her forehead before running off to play basketball.
"Looks like your son's a ladies' man just like you, Scott," Peyton teased Nathan.
"Oh God. Keep him away from her!" Brooke demanded.
"Lord help us if he's like his father," Haley said, smiling innocently at her husband.
"Ouch, guys. That hurts," he complained. "I'm a changed man."
"Yes, you are, baby," Haley said, leaning over to kiss him gently.
"I think we should all go out tonight to celebrate Peyton's big decision," Lucas offered, standing from his seat and changing the subject.
"That's a great idea, Luke, but who would watch the kids?" Brooke asked.
"I can call mom," Nathan said with a shrug.
"You think Deb can handle a 7 month old and a 14 month old?" Peyton asked skeptically.
"Sure. Jamie will help with Matthew, and he clearly loves Emma," Nathan teased. Brooke shot him daggers across the table. "I'll go make the call."
Brooke and Haley got into a discussion over how wonderful Deb had been to both of them, so Lucas turned to Peyton and she gave him a nervous smile.
"You're really going to do it?" he asked. She nodded and a wide smile broke on her face. "That's great, Peyton."
"Thanks, Luke. Now I just have to find an office and a place to live," she said with a chuckle.
"Wait. You're doing it here?" he asked, surprised.
"Well, yeah," she answered, turning her body to face him completely
Something inside him shifted upon hearing that she was staying in Tree Hill. She'd been gone for so long and they all missed her terribly. Now, with her returning for good, everything felt right. The group was back together, and she was such a huge part of it. He had to smile.
"That's the best news I've heard all day," he said sincerely.
"Where would an apology fit on that list?" she asked, looking to her hands.
"Why? Who owes me one?" he joked.
"Luke..."
"We're both sorry. It's all good," he said with a smile and she sighed in relief.
"Mom's coming over after dinner," Nathan announced, joining his friends again.
"Great!" Haley said.
"I'd better get home and feed this one and get some things together," Brooke said, standing from her spot.
"Yeah. I should shower and stuff," Peyton said.
"Me too," Lucas said.
"OK, you two, but just do it separately, alright?" Nathan teased. Peyton could feel her face going red so she looked to the ground as she said goodbye and walked with Brooke to the driveway.
"Awkward!" Brooke said softly as they walked.
"Shut up!" Peyton laughed.
"He's right though. Try to keep it under wraps, OK?" Brooke teased, bumping her friend's hip with her own.
"Ready?" Lucas called as he stood next to his car waiting for Peyton. She smiled back at Brooke and made her way to him.
Once in the car, Lucas couldn't wipe the smile off his face. She was staying. He noticed, however, that she was uneasy.
"What's wrong?" he asked, not bothering to look at her.
"How'd you...?" She stopped herself and realized that he just knew her that well. "I'm really sorry, Luke."
"I know," he said softly. "Me too."
He knew he didn't have to say anything more. He knew that she'd understand why he'd jumped to conclusions and acted like an idiot. Their apologies never needed much explanation.
"Yeah, I got the note," she said with a breathy laugh.
"Is it lame that I left it in a note?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No!" she proclaimed. "It was actually kind of perfect."
They drove the rest of the way just listening to the music coming from the stereo. She was relieved that they could both just forget that the kiss ever happened and go back to the way things were. Then she realized that she didn't want that. The more she thought about going back to the way things were, the more she realized that she didn't regret the kiss, and that the feelings she'd had for Lucas in recent days were real.
When they got inside the house, Lucas collapsed onto the couch.
"I'm so tired," he explained, closing his eyes.
"What'd you guys do today anyway?" Peyton asked from the kitchen.
"We went to the zoo. I forgot how much walking you have to do."
"Aww," she laughed. "Poor Lucas."
"I'm not kidding! I'm out of shape," he called.
She walked to stand in the doorway of the living room and looked at him laying on the couch.
"You don't look out of shape to me," she said with a grin. His eyes snapped open and he saw her there. He could only laugh. Thankfully she'd gone back into the kitchen before the blush appeared on his cheeks.
"What are you doing in there?" he asked, standing from the couch and making his way to the kitchen.
"Making dinner," she said nonchalantly. He watched her work from where he stood and saw how naturally cooking came to her.
"I'm gonna go shower," he said. "Unless you need my help."
"No, go ahead. Just don't use all the hot water or we'll have a problem," she said, her voice serious.
"Aaah, I'd just apologize in a note and everything would be OK again," he said. She turned to him and scowled.
"Get out of here," she joked, tossing the dish towel she'd had draped over her shoulder at him.
After he'd showered and gotten dressed, he came back into the kitchen, briefly taking Peyton's attention away from the food she was placing on plates. He was wearing dark jeans and a plain white button down shirt with a white undershirt beneath it. She smiled when she saw him. She'd once told him that the very thing he was wearing was her favourite look on a man.
"So do you like, take notes on everything I say?" she asked as they sat down to eat.
"What? This?" he asked, looking down at his clothing choice. "Just happened to be what I grabbed."
"Right," she said, twirling a bit of pasta on her fork.
"You're one to talk," he muttered.
"What?" she asked with a smile.
"Please! That little trick you pulled with the tee shirt yesterday?" He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, that?" she said innocently. "It really was just hot in my room. Thanks for the fan, by the way."
"Sure," he said, stifling a laugh.
They finished their meal with more harmless flirting and conversation about her business ideas. She voiced her concerns on finding an office space, and he reassured her that she'd find something. He loved every second of it, being there with her. He'd never felt that comfortable with Kate. Just sitting and eating dinner with Peyton, even with all the things that had happened in the days prior, he just loved being in the same space as her and talking with her.
"OK," she said as she placed their plates in the sink. "I'm going to shower and get dressed, then we can go."
"Sure thing, boss," he joked, making her glare at him again.
He waited in his bedroom and returned emails while she showered, and watched her walk into her room with a towel wrapped around her body. Cruel. A few scenarios played out in his mind, and none of them involved going to Tric with all their friends. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a frustrated groan come from her room.
"What's wrong?" he shouted.
"I have nothing to wear!"
"Your suitcase is the size of a small car! I'm sure you have something in there that will do," he teased.
"Not the time for jokes, Luke! How long till Nathan picks us up?" she yelled.
He checked the clock next to his bed. "15 minutes."
He heard her mutter a four letter word, then the door slammed again. He couldn't help but think that that's what every day life with Peyton would be like. He found himself craving it. Since she'd come to stay with him, he'd gotten so used to having her around that he couldn't imagine her not living with him. He was getting way ahead of himself.
He was writing an email to his mom, explaining Peyton's plans and giving her the details on how everyone was doing, just as he did every second day, when Peyton appeared in his doorway. She was in a dark green cotton dress that had a tastefully plunging neckline and seemed to make her eyes look even more green - something he didn't think was possible.
"Let's go," she said simply. He got the impression that she was completely unaware of how stunning she looked.
She'd already started towards the front door before he pulled himself out of his Peyton-induced daydream (which he'd been having many of lately). He caught up with her just as she was about to pull the door open.
"You look beautiful," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he reached for the doorknob. She smiled in response and made no effort to hide the blush on she felt creeping to her face.
They'd just stepped outside when Nathan and Haley arrived to pick them up. They each climbed in the back seat and Nathan made a comment about Peyton's dress that made Haley swat him on the chest, and they drove to Tric with the the two women complaining about Nathan's insistence to listen to a basketball game on the radio.
Brooke was already pulling up to the club when they got there, since she'd driven separately so she could leave early and pick up Emma.
"Come on girls," Brooke said, linking arms with Haley and Peyton. "Let's do some damage."
All three of them started laughing at the phrase that used to be a regular in Brooke's every day conversation, and walked off toward the club, leaving Nathan and Lucas behind.
"Why does it feel like we're 21 again?" Nathan asked, shooting his brother a quizzical look.
"What? The three of them dressed...like that, and leaving us to fend for ourselves? That's kind of the way it's always been, isn't it?" Lucas laughed.
"Yeah. At least they didn't ask us to hold their purses for them," Nathan said as they started walking towards the door.
"The night is young, Nate," Lucas joked, clapping a hand on his brother's back.
----
Nathan and Lucas were waiting in line at the bar to buy everyone a round of drinks, and the girls were already twirling on the dance floor to a popular song both men knew they all loved.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm going to have a drunk Haley on my hands tonight?" Nathan laughed, walking from the bar to a vacant table with a beer for himself and a gin and tonic for his wife.
"Most men would be happy about that," Lucas replied, setting his, Peyton's and Brooke's drinks on the table.
"Come on, Luke. You know how she gets. Two of these," he said, holding up her glass, "and she'll be falling asleep on my shoulder."
They were still laughing when the women joined them at the table.
"What's funny?" Haley asked, picking up her drink and sipping from the straw.
"We're just talking about how ridiculous you are when you're drunk," Lucas said nonchalantly.
Haley reached out and slapped Nathan's chest while her mouth hung open to show her irritation.
"What'd you hit me for?" Nathan laughed, rubbing the spot where her hand had stung him.
"I know you were the one who brought it up!" she replied. She knew her husband well, and both men started laughing again.
"Here's to Peyton's new label!" Brooke shouted, holding up her glass. They all laughed at the abrupt subject change.
They all offered their congratulations to the blonde, and clinked their glasses together before starting in on another conversation. Lucas noticed Peyton's attention wasn't focused on the words her friends were speaking.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly, leaning elbow on the table and turning his back to his friends so he could face her.
"Nothing!" she replied, perhaps too quickly. She knew by his kinked brow that he didn't believe her. "I'm just worried about how I'm going to do it all."
"You'll be great," he reassured her with a smile. "Come here." He cupped her elbow with his hand and led her away from the table, smirking at the confused look on her face.
"How long before those two are hooking up?" Haley asked with a chuckle after noticing the two blondes walk away.
"About 5 minutes," Nathan answered, making both Brooke and Haley laugh. Only Brooke knew how close to the truth that statement may have been.
----
Lucas led Peyton to a door in the back of the club before pulling his keys out of his pocket and unlocking the door. She had yet to say a word and the perplexed look on her face hadn't left since they'd walked away from their friends.
"Lucas, what is this?" she finally asked, stepping through the large sliding door into a room full of stray tables and boxes of liquor.
"This is your new office," he said with a smile.
"What!?" she shouted, spinning around to face him. "What are you talking about?!"
"Well, no one knows this, not even Haley, but my mom signed Tric over to me at the same time she gave me the house. I'm the sole owner, Peyton," he explained.
"OK..." she said skeptically, shaking her head slightly, still completely confused.
"And as the sole owner," he said, taking a step towards her, "I want you to have this space to use as your new office. Rent free."
"Lucas, I cannot do that," she said, holding out her hands in protest.
"Yes, you can. I told you I'd help you any way I can. And that even means getting Nathan to clear all this crap out of here," he joked.
"I can't," she repeated, turning back to look at the exposed brick walls and stained glass windows. It was the perfect space, she had to admit, but it was too much for him to offer.
"I insist. I'm not taking no for an answer," he persisted. She turned to face him again and saw the smile on his face, indicating that he was 100 per cent serious.
"I don't know what to say," she said softly.
"Say you'll come in here tomorrow and start setting things up. And maybe say thank you," he teased and shrugged his shoulders.
Before she'd said another word, she flew into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered.
She wanted to kiss him. Badly. But she knew where he stood on the matter and she wasn't ready for a rejection, so she held back.
With her looking into his eyes that way, all he wanted to do was press his lips to hers and tell her that he'd do anything for her; that he'd always do anything for her.
They stood there for a moment before he suggested they get back to their friends, and they walked out of her 'office'. He was locking the door behind them and she was walking back to the table when she heard a vaguely familiar voice call her name. She turned her head in the direction of the sound.
"Eric. Hi," she said, surprised.
"You feeling better?" he asked. Lucas had begun towards her just in time to see the stranger's eyes pass over Peyton's body. He felt the jealousy rise up immediately.
"Um, yeah. Sorry about last night," she offered lamely.
"That's OK. I'm just glad you're alright," he said with a genuine smile, completely unaware that he'd been lied to. "Let me get you a drink."
He'd gestured to the bartender before she had time to decline his offer. Lucas watched the interaction and tried to read Peyton's body language, but her back was to him. She wasn't walking away from this guy, and he was getting her a drink.
Brooke looked over to where Peyton was standing, and saw the look on Lucas' face as he stood about 20 feet away from her, then she noticed Eric.
"Shit!" she muttered.
"What?" Nathan asked, following her gaze.
"That's the guy from our date last night," she explained worriedly.
"And a very jealous looking Lucas," Haley noted. "Could we have one night without drama?"
"Guess not," Nathan said, offering Haley a sympathetic look.
Lucas was on his way back to the table, but stopped at the bar for another drink before rejoining his friends.
"Where'd you two run off to?" Haley asked, attempting to break the palpable tension.
"Who is that guy?" he asked, ignoring Haley.
"That's um...He's..." Brooke stuttered. The look Lucas gave her was bone chilling. "He's kind of her date from last night."
The three friends watched as Lucas downed his scotch quickly and asked the waitress for another one. Haley gave Nathan a worried look and he could only shrug his shoulders. Clearly there was more going on with Lucas and Peyton than either of them knew.
She stood across the bar, talking to Eric, and she could see Lucas out of the corner of her eye. The enraged look on his face made her angry for some reason. He had no right to act that way, given that he was the one who'd put a stop to anything further happening between them. She barely heard Eric ask her to dance before his hand was on the small of her back and he was leading her to the dance floor.
"I need air," Lucas said angrily as he finally took his gaze of Peyton. He downed another drink before walking towards the exit.
"Nathan!" Haley whined urgently, implying that she wanted her husband to go after his brother.
"I'll go," Brooke said, avoiding eye contact with Nathan and Haley and putting her glass on the table.
She walked outside to find him leaning with his forearms on the railing of the balcony. She leaned her back against it so she could face him as they talked.
"I know about the kiss," she explained before he could say anything.
"What? She said you didn't."
"Yeah, well when she walked out on her date before dessert, she explained it all to me," Brooke said with a chuckle. He ran his hand through his hair. "Luke, you can't do this."
"Do what?!" he asked.
"Get all jealous and broody over her!" Brooke explained. "You're the one who said you didn't want to take things further."
"Yeah, well maybe I lied!" he finally admitted. The look on her face was momentarily one of surprise, then she rolled her eyes. Of course he'd lied to everyone, including himself. This was Lucas. She, of all people, knew that he was always the last one to be clued into his real feelings.
"So what are you going to do about it?" she asked quietly.
"What can I?" he asked. "She's in there grinding with what's-his-name and there's nothing I can do."
"First of all," she said with a chuckle. "She's not grinding anyone." He glared at her before she continued. "Second of all, getting all jealous and squinty will only piss her off."
"Why would it piss her off?" he asked irritably.
"Because you said you didn't want her!"
"I do want her." He was adamant, but his voice was soft. She knew he was sincere.
"Well, let her come to you," Brooke said, just as softly.
"What if she doesn't? You know how damn stubborn she is," he said, finally straightening his posture and standing in front of her.
"Unlike you, Luke, Peyton can't lie to her heart," Brooke said with a kinked brow. He sighed loudly, signaling that he knew she was right. "Come on. Let's go get you another drink...Or maybe not, since you've already pounded three."
"I need another one," he said with a pout, making her laugh.
She threw her arm around his waist and the walked back into the club. He made a beeline for the bar, and Brooke rejoined Haley and Nathan.
"It'll be fine," she assured them. "Eventually."
"Right," Nathan said, watching his brother sip from another glass.
An hour later, Peyton was still talking to Eric, but any chance she got, her eyes drifted towards Lucas. She wasn't sure how many drinks he'd had, but he was gesturing animatedly as he spoke to her friends. She wanted to excuse herself from Eric and go back to her friends, but he'd barely let her get a word in, and hadn't asked if she'd come with anyone. She was finishing her 4th cocktail and he asked if she wanted another one, but she politely declined the offer.
He'd leaned closer to her and let his eyes fall over her body again, before whispering in her ear. "You look gorgeous."
She remembered to earlier in the evening when Lucas had said similar words, and the feeling she'd gotten when he'd said them. She didn't feel that with Eric. She said thank you, and watched him smile as he pulled away.
Lucas had seen the exchange, and Nathan had followed his gaze, watching the events unfold. He saw Lucas ball his hand into a fist, and nudged his brother's arm with his elbow in a silent plea for him to relax. Lucas didn't seem to notice, and before he could be stopped, he was on his way over to where Peyton stood. Nathan, Haley, and Brooke watched in anticipation of what was about to happen.
Peyton saw Lucas walk up behind Eric, and she was relieved. She was bored and just wanted to be with her friends. Then she noticed the look in his eyes and his rigid, protective posture. When he saw that she'd noticed, he visibly relaxed, taking Brooke's advice to heart - he didn't want to piss her off. He didn't know that it was too late.
"Hey, Peyt. You gonna join us anytime soon?" he asked. Only he and Peyton identified the irritation in his voice.
"Hey man, I'm Eric. Sorry I've kept her from you all night," he chuckled. Lucas didn't see the humor in the statement. This guy had been in his way all night, and he was about to put a stop to it. When Eric extended his hand, Lucas turned his attention back to Peyton, completely ignoring the man's gesture.
"You coming?" he asked, searching her eyes. He saw the flash of anger he'd so wished to avoid. He knew he was being protective and, dare he say, territorial, but he couldn't take seeing Eric flirt with her any longer.
"Would you excuse me for a second?" she asked Eric. When he nodded, she grabbed Lucas' arm, maybe harder than she needed to, and pulled him to a quiet corner.
"What the hell, Luke!?" she asked.
"What are you doing?" he asked, ignoring her question.
"I'm talking to someone. God, Luke. You can't do this!" she said angrily. The stubborn side of her had come out. She had wanted to walk away from Eric all night, but Lucas thinking he had any sort of 'claim' to her was just infuriating.
He looked into her eyes and she saw his soften. He leaned forward so he could be sure she heard him loud and clear.
"I wanted to be the one to flirt with you all night."
She pulled away, annoyance written on her face. "You're drunk," she said calmly after a moment. Lucas Scott didn't say things like that. At least not sober.
"I'm not drunk, Peyton. I'm finally seeing clearly."
She stood for a moment, trying to figure out exactly what those words meant, but she was so angry, that she wanted to ignore them. She shook her head and held up her hands, indicating that she couldn't be around him any longer and that their conversation was over. She turned on her heel and walked back to Eric.
Lucas stood and watched as she started talking to Eric again, and he strode back over to the table where his friends were. Little did he know that she was telling the guy that she had to spend time with her friends and politely thanking him for the drinks. Before he could ask for her phone number, she had turned to walk away, just in time to see Lucas taking to Brooke.
"Brooke, when are you leaving?" Lucas asked desperately.
"Right now," she said, sensing the urgency in his voice. She knew he couldn't bear to stay a moment longer. "Let's go."
She offered a wave to Nathan and Haley and followed Lucas out of the club. The ride to his house was silent, and the only word he muttered was 'thanks' when she dropped him off.
Brooke sat in her SUV and waited until Lucas had closed the door of his house behind him before she left.
"Oh boy," she muttered to herself.
So much for no drama